The Analytic Onion: Examining Training Issues from Different Levels of Analysis. Interim Technical Paper for Period July 1989-June 1991.

This paper proposes a conceptual framework based on different levels of analysis using the metaphor of the layers of an onion to help organize and structure thinking on research issues concerning training. It discusses the core of the "analytic onion," the biological level, and seven levels of analysis that surround that core: the individual, the group, and the organizational, community, societal, world, and space systems. Interactions between the levels are also considered. Disciplinary perspectives from biology, psychology, social psychology, political science, and sociology are presented; all are viewed as having contributions to make to the examination of training issues when the focus is on the appropriate level of analysis. The paper argues that using a single disciplinary perspective may result in missing many alternative training solutions to operational problems or solutions to training and operational problems that do not appear at first glance to be related to training or operations. Research issues and/or research questions are identified at each level of analysis. Contains 43 references. (YLB)